The groupings, IBSA and BRICS, both created in the early 2000’s, have made significant strides in changing the global world order – and in improving solidarity and co-operation amongst emerging countries. The BRICS platform accounts for 26% of the world’s area, 40% of its population, and 22% of the global GDP. While the BRICS have improved trade between emerging global powers, the IBSA has created a platform for three of those emerging democratic states to discuss issues such as civil society, democracy, development, information sharing and technology, among others. The trade between IBSA countries has grown impressively from $3.9 billion in 2003 to over $10 billion in 2008, with a projected $25 billion by 2015. Both the groupings are gradually maturing. However, which one shows the most promise for India and South Africa? What role can India and South Africa play in both the groupings? Can they help the groupings address global challenges and how should they go about it?
On December 5, Gateway House hosted Kasinyane France Morule, High Commissioner of South Africa to India, in conversation with Akshay Mathur, Head of Research, Gateway House, to discuss ‘BRICS v/s. IBSA.’
Kasinyane France Morule is the High Commissioner of South Africa to India. Prior to this, he served in various positions such as the Member of the National Public Service Commission of South Africa; the Provincial Minister of Finance and the Provincial Minister of Police under the Free State Provincial Legislature. He has also served on several committees, notably the African National Congress (ANC) Branch Executive Committees, ANC Regional Executive Committees and the ANC National Disciplinary Committee, amongst others.
Akshay Mathur is the Head of Research at Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. Prior to this, he was Principal Architect, Strategy and Architecture group of the multi-billion dollar Institutional and Retail Brokerage division, Fidelity Investments, Boston. He has an MBA (Honours) from Boston University with concentration in Finance and Business Analysis with a focus on Global Business and Global Macro Economics. He has a B.Sc. in Computer Science (Cum Laude) from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where his research focused on the application of Artificial Intelligence to Combinatorial Mathematics. He is also the Co-Founder of Aasra, an NGO based in Rajasthan.
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